New Port Terminal Opens at
Lubang Island
LUBANG ISLAND,
Occidental Mindoro - On Monday, First Gentleman Jose
Miguel T Arroyo led the inauguration of the passenger
terminal building at the Lubang
port, a strategic point
of the Roll-on/Roll-off (RO-RO) Strong Republic Nautical
Highway Mimaropa (Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan)
route, which is expected to spur economic development in
this island municipality.
The P17 million
(US$306,000) passenger terminal building at the port of
Tilik is part of the three-phase development of the
Lubang port that will serve as the gateway to the island
- initially to Southern Luzon - by opening opportunities
and enhancing business and tourism.
The first
gentleman represented President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
in the ceremony.
In a brief message, Mr Arroyo
said connecting places that were isolated through the
RO-RO has always been a dream of the president's.
He said the president is determined to propel
economic development in the provinces through faster and
enhanced transportation of agricultural products as well
as ease mobility of the people, which would enhance
trade and catapult tourism in the country.
To
develop this island as a tourist destination, Arroyo has
committed P300,000 for various tourism projects in the
area.
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general
manager Alfonso Cusi, who assisted Arroyo in the
unveiling of the building's marker, said the project
would reduce transport costs of agricultural goods from
the island as it would speed up travel time for the
island's produce and its people.
The Lubang port
development, Cusi said, would open the island to
Calatagan, Batangas; Abra de Ilog, San Jose, Coron and
other municipalities of Occidental Mindoro; Calapan and
other Oriental Mindoro provinces; Palawan, Visayas and
Mindanao.
Representing his constituents, Mayor
Juan Sanchez thanked the president for the project,
stressing that with it the development of the island
into a progressive municipality can be easily achieved.
Agricultural products of the island such as
rice, vegetables and fruits like mangoes and bananas can
be easily transported not only to Manila but to other
areas as well. The project is also expected to spur the
development of tourism, he added.
(Asia
Pulse/PNA)
Source : Asia Times online
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